PANNONHALMA ABBEY (PANNONHALMI FŐAPÁTSÁG)

The first Hungarian religious institution was founded in 996 by the prince árpádien Géza, father of the future king Josiah István. The first Benedictine monks who came to settle there on the Prince's invitation came from Venice and Bohemia. In medieval times, the abbey was the last outpost of Christianity before the East. In addition to their mission of converting the population of A, the monks had the task of teaching new methods of agriculture to the population. These Benedictine monks also founded the country's first monastic school. Later, the abbey enriched the Saint Benoît chapel and a remarkable cloister.

The visit begins with a presentation film for about fifteen minutes.

The monastery served as local administration until the th century. The very rich collection of documents dates back to the time. During the Turkish occupation, the monastery served as a strong place for the new masters, and monastic life ceased. Thanks to its exposure to Mecca, the church, transformed into a mosque, remained a holy place. The current Baroque style monastery as well as the remarkable dining date from the reconstructions undertaken after the Turkish period. The library was built in the early th century in a neo-classical style. The church and crypt, which resisted the storming of the Tatars, date back to the th century. One of the most beautiful church elements of this time is the Porte gate. During his visit to Hungary in 1991 Pope John Paul II visited Pannonhalma Abbey to meet with the monastic community that has been there for more than a thousand years.

A tower of 55 m high, with a neoclassical dome, rises above the large buildings of the abbey. In the central court, one can see a statue of the abbot who brought the Holy Crown of Rome to King Szent István, the first Christian king of Hungary confirmed by the Pope. Later, the main entrance of the Saint-Martin basillique is carried out by the Speciosa door, decorated with a multitude of columns of red marble and carved sandstone (restoration by the family of Des de Sopron, very controversial).

The church, with three naves, from the th century, is Roman and Gothic style, with inevitable subsequent inputs. The vaults evoke late Gothic.

The great dining hall is beautifully decorated with Baroque frescoes and stucco. The ambulatory under the arcades represents the last intact medieval cloister in Hungary. The increasing on plant and plant grounds symbolize different human qualities and defects, such as anger or jealousy.

The neoclassical library of 1836, with columns and cupola, deserves special attention. It is the largest Benedictine bookshop in the world. It contains over 300 000 volumes in a good 230 languages, including some very rare codex and 1500 incunables books (dating back to). The monastery's archives also include invaluable documents, such as the act of foundation of Tihany Abbey, 1055.

The Abbey (Major), recently renovated, hosts temporary exhibitions in two different rooms (entry in addition or ticket combined with Abbey 2 600/300 Ft).

The Lycée de Pannonhalma hosts nearly 350 boys from all over the country to receive a rigorous education. The abbey also houses a theological faculty and, since 1951, a retirement house for elderly monks and nuns. The group of houses around the monastery has been inscribed on the List of Protected Historic Sites.